David Blatt, shown at a Euroleague championship celebration in Tel Aviv, was a decorated European coach before joining the Cavs. / Jack Guez, AFP/Getty Images

by Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

A month ago, just hours after coaching Macabbi Tel Aviv to a stunning victory against Real Madrid for Euroleague basketball championship, David Blatt told USA TODAY Sports he was "very interested" in an NBA coaching job.

"No doubt in my mind I can do the job," he said. But, he added, "Obviously someone has to want you."

The Cleveland Cavaliers got him. Blatt reached a deal Friday to coach the Cavaliers, a person familiar with the agreement told USA TODAY Sports. The contract includes three years with a fourth as a team option and is worth about $20 million with incentives. The person requested anonymity because the deal had not been announced officially.

The Cavaliers announced Blatt's hire late Friday and said he will have an introductory news conference Wednesday.

"I feel strongly about my fit for the job and this team's potential," Blatt said in a news release. "This is an opportune time to join the Cleveland Cavaliers. We are going to work extremely hard to achieve the kind of results we all expect and know are possible."

This is a bold and laudable hire by the Cavs. Blatt has no NBA experience as a player or coach. But he is a well-respected and accomplished international coach. He coached the Russian national team to the 2007 Eurobasket championship, 2011 Eurobasket bronze medal and 2012 London Olympics bronze medal.

ESPN analyst and international basketball expert Fran Fraschilla said Blatt is an excellent pick-and-roll coach who is smart, creative and adaptable. The American-born 55-year-old, who played at Princeton for Pete Carril, has spent his entire career overseas, coaching in pro leagues in Israel, Russia, Italy, Turkey and Greece.

The upset victory vs. Real Madrid was the first Euroleague championship for Blatt, who has also been named Israel's coach of the year three times and Russia's coach of the year once.

"David Blatt is going to bring some of the most innovative approaches found in professional basketball anywhere on the globe," Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said in the news release. "Time and time again, from Russia to Israel and several other prominent head coaching jobs in between, David has done one thing: 'win'. He is not only an innovator, well-trained and focused on both sides of the court, but he is always learning and always teaching."

At the 2012 London Olympics, Blatt was thrilled to talk with U.S.-based reporters. His son, Tamir, is a talented 17-year-old point guard who could be looking at U.S. colleges.

In Cleveland, Blatt will take over a team that fractured last season despite a lot of young talent. The Cavaliers went 33-49 in Mike Brown's return to the team, leading to his firing.

This offseason has been particularly interesting in Cleveland. Interim general manager David Griffin was kept on to run the front office. The team also won the NBA draft lottery for its fourth No. 1 pick in 12 years and third in four. Point guard Kyrie Irving can sign a contract extension this offseason, and the Cavs also could bring back potential free agent LeBron James, the Ohio-native superstar who left in 2010 to join the Miami Heat.

"I have watched David's work for many years," Griffin said in the news release. "He has an uncanny ability to adapt his system to maximize the talents of his teams year after year. That is why I am very confident he will make a smooth transition to the NBA. There is a great opportunity to accelerate the progress of moving our team and franchise to the higher level of play we all believe we are capable of achieving."